Wheel



May 21, 1935. F. H. LE'JEUNE 2 2,002,292

WHEEL Filed April 25. 1952 I I I 1" I I I I My Patented May UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,002,292 WHEEL' Frank H. Le Jeune, Detroit, Mich, assignor, by

mesne assignments,

Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich.,

of Delaware to The Kelsey-Hayes a corporation Application April 25, 1932, Serial No. 607,479

10 Claims.

The invention relates to wheels and refers more particularly to hubs of motor vehicle wheels.-

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved construction of hub. Another object is to provide an improved construction of combined hub and drum. A further object is to provide an improved method of manufacture, whereby the hub These and other may be economically made.

objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description,

taken in connection ing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sec embodying my invention and forming the same;

tion.

with the accompanying drawtional view illustrating 'a hub also the method of Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a modifica- Referring to Figure 1, l is the hub of a front motor vehicle wheel which comprises the sheet metal member 2 a nd the cast metal member 3 within the sheet metal member and formed to receive the usual anti-friction bearings. The

sheet metal member has the annular portion A and the integral annular radially outwardly extending portion 5- formed at its periphery with the transverse annular portion 8, the portions 4, 5 and 6 ing molten metal, such as iron,

portion of the hub. The cast formed by centrifugally castwithin this shell portion at a temperature such that the cast metal member is fused with and molecularly bonded to the portions 4, 5 and 6.

The sheet metal member 2 in the present in-,

stance also has the annular radially outwardly extending portion drum 9. The radi nects I and the transverse annular these portions 1 and 8 the sheet metal memshell portion of the brake ally extending portion 1 coninto the transverse annular portion 6 and is axially offset rearwardly from the radially extending portion 5 and is preferably provided with the radially extending reinforcing ribs ID. The annular portion 8 is also preferably provided with the encircling hollow ribs H.

H is a cast metal member within the annular portion 8 and preferably formed by centrifugally casting molten within this latter portion at that the cast member 12 is fused with and molecularly bonded to the annular portion throughout its extent.

In the manufacture, ably sheet steel blank a sheet metal and preferis fashioned by a suitable stamping or drawing or rolling operation, or by a combination thereo f. to form the annular portions inserted into place 4, 6 and 8 with the intermediate radially extending portions 5 and 'i. The combined hub and drum shell is then positioned within and secured to the chuck 13, after which the solid core l4 and the hollow core l5 are inserted into place, the latter being secured to the annular weight l6 preferably formed of iron. The core l4 has a reduced portion extending through the axial opening I! in the radially inwardly extending annular flange I8 at the front end of the annular portion 6 and 10 the enlarged portion of this core I4 is spaced 1 from the inner surface of the encircling part of the annular portion A to provide an annular space for receiving the molten metal which forms the front end portion of the cast metal member 3. The core l5 has the axial and radial openings 19 v and i9 therethrough, the latter extending between the supporting portions of the core which engage and rest upon the core M. The core I5 is so formed that it is spaced from the encircling 20 part of the annular portion 4 and also spaced from' the radially outwardly extending portion 5 to form the remainder of the cast metal member 3, including the radially outwardly extending annular flange 20. Both the cores l4 and I5 may be formed of dry sand in the usual manner and the core l5 may be provided with the gas vents 2! which lead from the pocket formed in this core to make the rear end portion of the cast metal member 3. The periphery of the radially 3o outwardly extending portion of the core l5 contacts with the terminal portion of the transverse annular flange 8 and the arrangement is such that the two cores l4 and i5 confine the molten metal during the pouring.

After the cores have been with one resting upon and supported by the other, the chuck is then rotated and molten metal, such as cast iron, may be poured through the pouring spouts 22 and 23 to form the cast metal member 3 and the cast metal member or liner l2, the temperature of this molten metal and also the temperature of the sheet metal member 2 being such that the molten metal fuses with and is molecularly bonded to the sheet metal member.

In the modification shown in Figure 2, the hub is a rear wheel hub which may be more readily formed. The sheet metal member forming the shell portion 24 of this hub also has an integral part forming the brake drum shell portion 25. With this construction but one dry sand core 28 is necessary to retain the molten metal during the centrifugal casting of the cast metal portion 21 of the hub. Thiscore is secured to and held in place by the annular weight 28 preferably formed of iron, which latter engages and is supported by the radially extending portion of the brake drum and more particularly its reinforcing ribs. Both the centrifugally cast portion 21 and the centrifugally cast brake engaging portion or liner 29 of the brake drum may be formed at the same time.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wheel, a combined hub and drum, comprising a one-piece sheet metal member having annular portions of different diameter and integrally connecting axially offset radially extending portions, and a member cast within the annular portion of smaller diameter and having a radially extending portion at the side of one of said radially extending portions, said cast member forming with said sheet metal member a wheel hub having a radially extending flange.

2. The method of forming a combined hub and drum of a wheel, which comprises fashioning a sheet metal blank to produce annular portions of different diameter and intermediate axially offset radially extending portions, centrifugally casting molten metal within the annular portion of smaller diameter and at the side of its connecting radially extending portion, and confining the molten metal during the casting.

'3. In a wheel, a hub shell having an annular portion which forms a hub and a portion extending outwardly from said annular portion, a member cast Within the annular portion and having an outwardly extending portion at one side of the outwardly extending portion aforesaid of the shell and cooperating with the latter portion to form an outwardly extending flange on the annular portion.

4. In a wheel, a hub shell having annular portions of different diameters connected together by a radially extending portion, the annular portion of greater diameter being pressed outwardly at the juncture of the same with the radial portion to form a recess, and a member cast within the annular portion of smaller diameter and having a radially extending portion at one side of the radial portion of the shell projecting into said recess.

5. In a wheel, a hub shell having an annular portion forming a hub and having another an- I nular portion of greater diameter than the annular portion aforesaid and connected to the latter by a radially extending portion, and a centrifugally castmember within the annular portion of smaller diameter having a radially extending portion at one side of the radial portion of the shell and abutting the annular portion of the latter of greater diameter and cooperating with the radial portion of the shell'to form a radially outwardly extending flange on the hub.

6. In a wheel, a member having annular portions of different diameters provided with radial- 1y extending portions, a member cast within the one side of one of the radially extending portions aforesaid in abutting relation to said axially extending portion, said cast member forming a wheel hub having a radially extending flange, and a member cast within the annular portion of greater diameter in abutting relation to the other of the radially extending portions of said member to form a brake flange.

8. The method of forming a wheel hub having an outwardly extending flange which consists in fashioning a sheet metal blank to form a shell with an annular portion which forms a hub and with a portion extending outwardly from said annular portion, centrifugally casting molten metal within the annular portion and at one side of the outwardly extending portion to form with the latter portion the outwardly extending flange aforesaid on the hub.

9. The method of forming a wheel hub having a radially outwardly extending flange which consists in fashioning a sheet metal blank to produce a shell having an annular portion forming a hub and having another portion of,'greater diameter than the annular portion aforesaid and connected to the latter by an outwardly extending portion, centrifugally casting molten metal within the annular portion of smaller diameter and at one side of the outwardly extending portion in abutting relation to the annular portion of greater diameter to form with said outwardly extending portion the radial flange aforesaid on the hub.

10. The method of forming a combined hub and drum of a wheel, which consists in fashioning a sheet metal blank to produce annular portions of different diameters and intermediate axially offset radially extending portions integrally connected by an axiallyextending portion, centrifugally casting molten metal within the annular portion of smaller diameter and at one side of its radially extending portion in abutting relation to the axially extending portion, and centrifugally casting molten metal within the annular portion of greater diameter in abutting relation to its radially extending portion.

FRANK H. LE JEUNE. 

